Battle Of The Bite-Sized Semi-Hardcore Off-Roaders

In the world of off-roading, bigger isn’t always better. Sure, having 37-inch tires on a massive pickup with beefy axles and weeks of overlapping gear is sweet, but it’s also overkill for 99% of people. Most adventurous individuals really just want something that can take them down some dirt roads, carry a weekend’s worth of supplies, and maybe tackle a muddy hill when necessary. This doesn’t necessitate a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, but something a lot more economical, and fortunately these days there are a lot of good options out there.

The three we’ve picked are the Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness, Jeep Compass Trailhawk, and Ford Maverick Tremor. Note, we’re comparing the 2024 Ford Maverick to the others, not the well-updated 2025, as that model has risen in price significantly and many 2024 models can still be found new. Now, these aren’t off-roaders as much as they’re sem-capable “softroaders”, meaning they’re mostly just gussied-up crossovers/pickups, and that’s fine. They’re great on space, offer some genuinely decent performance, and are significantly cheaper than many other off-roading options.

This is an on-paper comparison, with links to driven reviews where available. All information has been sourced from press websites.

Rugged Off-Road Looks

Each of these vehicles takes the typical off-road approach of adding accent colors, rugged wheels and tires, and a tow hook or two to give these average vehicles a little more character on the trail. With all three vehicles, we think the automakers did a good job of not going overboard with the additions, but we admire Jeep for not going the yellow route the other two did.

• Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness: Subaru’s Wilderness sub-brand has been a hot seller, in part because it emphasizes rugged styling with rugged cladding, a raised suspension, and a matte-black anti-glare hood decal. The yellow accents look great with the Alpine Green or Geyser Blue paint too.
• Jeep Compass Trailhawk: The Compass Trailhawk takes the route that most other Trailhawk models do, but it’s worked great for Jeep over the years. You still have Jeep’s signature seven-slot grille, but skid plates and red tow hooks have been added. The wheel arches are a bit bolder, and it’s hard to miss the “Trail Rated” and “Trailhawk” badging all around, but overall it isn’t too in-your-face.
• Ford Maverick Tremor: The Maverick Tremor arrived in 2023, and while it hasn’t gotten a ton of coverage since then, we’re big fans. While the Tremor is a standalone trim for 2025, for 2024 it’s just a package that can be added to the XLT or Lariat trims, and it brings yellow/orange accents, cool wheels and tires, badging, and greater ground clearance. The key, like with the Crosstrek, is to pick a color that makes the accents pop. Atlas Blue Metallic or Terrain are our picks.

The Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness and Ford Maverick Tremor stand out for their higher ground clearance, which may show that the Compass Trailhawk isn’t keeping up with competitors.

Small Displacement, Big Power

When it comes to powertrains, you can get a four-cylinder engine, or you can find another vehicle.

The Ford Maverick Tremor is the clear winner when it comes to power, even though it has been detuned to 238 horsepower for 2025 from 250 (Ford insists nothing in the engine has changed, just how it’s measured has been made consistent across the country). If you care about grunt, it’s the one to get, and next up is the Compass, which offers a respectable 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. We’re once again asking that Subaru please turbocharge the Crosstrek or at least drop in the new 2.4 Boxer out of the BRZ.

Fuel Economy

Fortunately, the lower power output does help the Wilderness model to return better fuel economy than the other two, though none of them are atrocious. Even the Maverick can muster up 25 MPG combined, but it’s best to remember that when loaded with gear and whatnot, your expectations should be lower.

Off-Road Equipment: Ready for Adventure

When it comes to off-road capability, all three automakers did a great job outfitting their respective models with a healthy amount of off-road equipment. Sure, these vehicles aren’t going to have true low-range transfer cases or genuine locking differentials (well, not all at least), but you’d be surprised how much they can make up for it with the impressive AWD and traction control systems in place today.

Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

The Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness is the all-around adventurer, with 9.3 inches of ground clearance and Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires that are perfect for rough roads and light off-roading. Its advanced dual-function X-Mode system allows drivers to select specialized driving modes, such as Snow/Dirt or Deep Snow/Mud, and it even offers a 4.006:1 crawl ratio to carefully tackle hills. Subaru also adds front and rear skid plates, offering protection against rocky trails, and LED foglights to light up the trail in front of you.

Jeep Compass Trailhawk

The Jeep Compass Trailhawk boasts the Trail Rated badge, and although it’s a bit broad, it does mean the car is more capable than most. It stands out with the best-in-class approach (30.0°) and departure angles (34.0°), making it ideal for climbing steep inclines and navigating tricky descents. The Selec-Terrain system offers specific modes for various conditions, including Rock Mode, but we wouldn’t tackle any seriously rocky trails with it. The Compass also features full underbody skid plates, giving it better protection than the Crosstrek in tougher terrain, and its three tow hooks will help you get out of a pinch no matter your position.

Ford Maverick Tremor

The Ford Maverick Tremor delivers the most off-road power in this comparison, and there’s no ignoring it sets itself apart as the only pickup in this comparison. With 9.4 inches of ground clearance, it slightly edges out the Crosstrek. It also features a twin-clutch AWD system with a rear-locking differential, giving it a legitimate leg up compared to the other two. The Maverick Tremor’s Tremor Terrain Management System provides five driving modes for different off-road environments, while its 24-inch wading depth is unmatched, making it the best choice for water crossings. We know every off-roader is going to scoff at its unibody construction, but it does come the closest to a genuine off-roader out of the bunch.

Interior and Technology

Since you’re going to be spending most of your time in the car instead of looking at it, ensuring your choice has all the amenities and comfort you’re looking for is paramount, and here the Compass really comes to the front of the pack.

Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

The Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness focuses on functionality with water-resistant StarTex seats and floor mats, making it ideal for muddy excursions that track the outside inside. Standard heated front seats add comfort, while the 11.6-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto dominates the interior and adds good function. Out of the three models, the Crosstrek’s interior is definitely the most simple, but if you’re used to Subaru interiors, then that may be a welcome thing.

Jeep Compass Trailhawk

The Jeep Compass Trailhawk offers a much more premium feel, with leather seats, soft-touch points everywhere, and an available panoramic sunroof. Its 10.1-inch touchscreen paired with Uconnect 5 provides an intuitive infotainment system that isn’t overly dominating. Features like the digital gauge cluster and optional multi-zone climate control add to its tech-forward interior and are well laid out. Jeep has done an incredible updating this model over the years, and its interior updates here have been very successful in our eyes.

Ford Maverick Tremor

The Ford Maverick Tremor emphasizes practicality with cloth upholstery and available heated front seats and leans more toward the Crosstrek than the Compass. Its 8-inch touchscreen is relatively small compared to the other two, but it does include all the new features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Though more basic, the interior is functional and provides ample storage, and there are plenty of standalone options you can add, like a moonroof to make it more of your own.

Price and Verdict

Comparing the pricing of the three models, it’s pretty clear the pricing isn’t too far apart. Although the 2024 version of the Crosstrek and Compass are going to come in a tad cheaper than the Maverick, the base price difference is only going to a thousand dollars or so, and then it starts varying wildly when you start adding the various packages available on the Compass or opting for the higher trim in the Maverick. At the end of the day, the Wilderness model is going to give you the best value for your money, as there aren’t many packages or features to add beyond the base vehicle, and it’s going to be able to do nearly everything the other two can.

If you need more ability and can spend a bit more, our next recommendation would be to go for the Maverick, as it really straddles the line between a softroader and a true off-roader. The compass is a fine option that has gotten meaningful updates over the years, but the price does balloon if you aren’t careful. All three will take you off the beaten path in style and get you through most situations. Just make sure you consider the model’s past reliability before pulling the trigger.